Konda reddis

Konda Reddis
(Southern Region)
Konda (forest) is a tribal group of Hyderabad and East Godavari districts of Andhra
Pradesh with strength of 48,609 (1991 census) and their sex ratio is 1:0.95.
They are divided into many sections differing in the manner of their assimilation to the
neighboring, economically more advanced Hindu castes.
Their racial composition, which includes primitive veddiod as well as more progressive
strains (brown skin color, medium stature, broad nose, hairless body, black head hair,
black eyes and broad forehead).
Like most of the other population of Andhra Pradesh, they speak Telugu (Dravidian
language family).
Birth Ceremony
Konda Reddi follow some taboos (prohibition) during pregnancy. Pregnant women
cannot touch any sacred items specially forest products till one month after the birth. The
pregnant woman is considered to be as a goddess, who is going to add a member to the
clan. Paidai (birth) ritual is celebrated at the time of birth and Konda devta (forest god) is
worshipped. They offer goat as a sacrifice to him and give a dinner to the community.
Marriage Ceremony
Konda (forest dweller) are gotra exogamous. Intrusion and probation (a woman spends
some time at her proposed husband’s house), consent and elopement marriages are in
practice. Bride wealth makes an easy environment for the settlement of the marriage. The
marriage ceremony starts with the proposal of the bride from the bridegroom’s side and
ends with the departure of the bride for the bridegroom’s home. They worship earth deity
and sacrifice pigs and fowls for prosperous life. A community dinner is also given.
Death Ceremony
They burn the dead body and have faith in souls as forefathers. They offer sacrifice to
Konda devta (forest god) for the welfare of the soul. The death ceremony lasts for three
days.
Religion
Their religious beliefs resemble the Hindus. The priest acts as the head of the community.
His position is usually hereditary in the male line and his functions are mainly in the
religious sphere. He acts as a mediator between man and the local deities, to secure the
prosperity of the community. He inaugurates the sowing the sowing of the grain crops
and propitiates Mother Earth with sacrifice of pigs and fowls. The Reddis attitude
towards other deities and spirits is one of caution rather than reverence, for these
supernatural beings are deemed as potentially dangerous as well as helpful. The ordinary
people cannot see Konda devta, but there are magicians and shamans, who can
communicate with supernatural forces in dreams as well as in a state of trance. The effect
of Shiva (a Hindu god) is also visible.
Economy
They depend on slash and burn (shifting) cultivation. Traditionally, the economy of the
Reddis is based on the periodic felling of the forest and the cultivation of various millets,
maize, pulses and vegetables in the resulting clearing. Podu (type of tillage, in which the
axe and not the plough is the primary instrument) is in common practice. Reddi
agriculture represents a crude form of cultivation as may be found anywhere on the
Asiatic mainland. Reddis subsist on wild forest produce, eating the sago-like pith of the
caryota palm or the kernel of mango stones. They also hunt with bows and arrows and
those living on the banks of the Godavari river supplement their food supply by fishing in
dugout canoes.
Traditionally the ownership of the land was vested in local groups, whose members may
hunt, collect and cultivate anywhere within the territory belonging to the community.
Education
1.7% are taking primary education. Due to residing in the forest and hills, their lifestyle is
still traditional.
The improvement of communications in recent years has made the Reddis habitat
accessible to outsiders. The commercial exploitation of the forests has brought about a
change in their living style and has involved the loss of freedom and independence of
their traditional life-style.